Internal-combustion engine



"May 18 1926. v 1,585,453

' M. K. WILLIAMSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Fild July 22, 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Who;

May 18 1926.

M. K. WILLIAMSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July 22, 1922 ASheets-Sheet 2 May 18 1926. 1,585,453

M. K. WILLIAMSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE MAumc-E KAYE wuunmsK May 181926.

M. K. WILLIAMSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE u k j m. x v M MN m w d N 5m I I f. u Z w y 1. f 4 H a}- 0. w a j w w y .4 y m w m MAURICE KAY?!) lflZLLIrMfEsQOll, '3? ADELAEDE, SGUTE-I ,AUSTRALIA, AUSzTRALIA.

INTERNALCGMBUSTIQN ENGINE.

Application filed July 22,

This invention relates to internal combus tion engines, and moreespecially to the type of ch mo wherein piston rcds rigidly at tached topistons transmit power to a crankshaft without the employment of aconnectinp; rod; and wherein, preferably, two or more opposed cylindersor sets of opposed cylinders are arranged in co-axial alignment and areprovided with pistons having piston rods which at or about their middlepoints engage the crank shaft but otherwise extend continuously frompiston to piston.

There are several difierent types of engines or motors in which rigidpiston rods connecting pistons working in cylinders 1n oppositealignment h been used. One example of this typeof engine is that inwhich i h the cylinders and the crank shaft roin the same direction, thecrank shaft rotating twice as fast as the cylinders, the axis of thecrank shaft being eccentric to the axis of rotation of the cylinders,the extent of such eccentricity being the rad'us of the crank shaft.

Another type of engine or motor of this description is one in which asecondary or additional crank is provided mounted upon the ordinarycrank, hereinafter termed the primary crank, said secondaryor additionalnk being connector to the piston rod. in engines or motors of thisdescription and in consequence of the rectilinear reciprocating motionof the piston rods it is possible to provide the cylinders with coversor closed ends furnished with suitable glands and studios; boxes throughwhich the )iston rods extend and reciprocate. In this manner thatportion of the cylinder upon the side of the piston oppositely disposedto the combustion head forms a closed chamber the dimension of whichalternately increases and diminishes and it may accordingly be used as apump for supplying explosive mixture orair to the combustion chamber ofthe cylinder. 'lhis pump can deliver explosive mixtiu'e or air to thecombustion chamber or to an intermediate receiver wherein it is storedunder pr-ssure and from which it is delivered to the combustion chamberat a required period during a cycle of work.

in this type of engine the cylinders are (1' d and arranged in opposedpairs or couples and he pistons of each opposed pair ar connected by apiston rod which at or about its middle point e ages a crank pin of asecondary crank shaft. {Each end eithe- 1922. .Serial No. 576,741.

secondary crank shaft is mounted or has its bearing in the arm of aprimary crank shaft which in turn is supported in bearings carried bythe crank case or engine framing. These primary crank arms are free torotate round the axis oftheir primary crank shaft in their bearings, andthe secondary crank shaft is likewise free to rotate about its axis inits hearings in the primary crank arms. The throw of the primary crankarms, that is the radial distance between the axis of the primary crankarms and the axis of the secondary crank shaft, is made exactly equal tothe throw of the cranks of'said secondary crank shaft.

lVth the co-acting parts arranged in this manner the axis of thesecondary crank shaft will move in a circle about the axis of theprimary crank arms, and simultaneously the crank pins of thesecondarycrank sl. aft will rotate around the axis thereof. "he circle describedby these crank pins has the same diameter as the circle around which theaxis of the secondary crank shaft travels and owing-to the constrainingaction of the piston rods said crank pins will describe a hypo-cycloidpath which conforms to a straight line the length of which is equal totwice the diameter of either of said circles.

in eneiines hitherto constructed on the above principle-it has beenfound that ifthe crank pins were guided in s eh rectilinear paths by theconstraint of the piston rods alone that the latter would be subjectedto lateral straining actions of a serious nature which repeatedlyalternate in direction and cause rapid wear of the piston rods, stutlingboxes, and the cylinders.

Hitherto, engines having secondary cranks rotatively mounted uponprimary cranks have not proved successful in continuous practicaloperation partly owing to trouble brought about by torsional vibrationsset up bytransference of energy to and from the flywheel. Such torsionalvibrations set up relative movements of the primary and secondarycranks, thereby disturbing their alignment and causing excessive wear inthe bearings and other parts.

According to thepresent invention means, hereinafter described, areprovided whereby the crank pins are caused to more in arectilinearhyporycloidal path independently of any constraining action by thepiston rods, and the latter are'accordingly rendered free from anytransverse straining actions or resales For this purpose hypo-cycloidalgearing is employed and by its use the piston rods 12% are reliever ofall lateral stresses and a smooth driving action is obtained between thesecondary crank shaft 21 and the prinia y cranks 1.8.

It is well lrnown that it a circle rolls, without slipping, aroundinside the periphcry or the dreumiercnce or a circle having twice itsdian'ieter, a given point on the circumference ot the former circle willdescribe a rectilinear hypo-cycloidal path which is a diameter of hlatter circle.

.rrccording secondary crank shaft 21 provided vii i. a pinion or pinionsthe Q0 pitch circle ciainet oi? which is made or; actly equal to twicethe throw of the secy cranks 23 and therefore equal to the dia Meterol-thc circular orbit of the second.- ary cranl: shaft 21. This pinion26 meshes with an internally toothed circular rack 27 the pitch circlediameter of which is made precisely twice that oi the pinion 26 andaccordingly equal to twice the diameter of the orbit of the secondarycrank arm 23. This circular rack 27 is conveniently lined in a partition28 formed in the crank case 10. In lieu of using a centrally locatedsingle rack and phinetary pinion described I may provide pinions onopposite ends of the secondlry raik shaft adjacent to the primary cranksand having circular racks suitably mounted in the crank case andengaging the pinions.

As the crank pins and the pinion 26 are concentrically disposed aboutthe axis or the secondary crank shaft 21, and as the radius or. thepitch circle of said pinion 26 is exactly equal to the throw of thecranks 23 it is obvious that it the axes or centre lines of said crankpins 24 are prolonged they will intersect the pitch circle of the pinionThe crank pins will more as though they were located on the pitch circleoi? the pinion 2t and they will describe hypo-cycloi:lal paths whicn arediameters oi the pitch circle ot the circular rack 27. The diameter 01":the pitcn circle t the circular rack 27 is equal. to twice the diameterott the orbit oi the secondary era-n1: shaft 21. which as pinviouslydescribed is also the length oil the hypocycloidal courses taken by thecrank pins 24 when snb ected aoove aboutby the use oi theIhypo-cycloidalall lateral staining actions and move freely through the stuliing boxes14. with minimum friction, and that lateral pressure or the pistons 12on the walls of the cylinders 11 is eliminated. Moreover the pinion 26will roll or climb around the circular 'ack 27, rotating the secondarycrank shaft 21- as it travels, and causing the ends 21 of said crankshaft thereof to exert an even torque or turning e'ltort upon theprimary cranks 18.

in lieu of employing the pinion 26 and circular rack 27' to relieve thepiston rods of all lateral stresses I may form the inner ends of bothpairs of piston rods integrally with rectangular sliding pieces 26adapted to reciprrcate in adjr stable guides 2'? lo cated within thecrank case 10 as shown in Figure 9.

In order to avoid straining actions in the Ll'l111t11'y cranks 18 andsecondary crank shaft 21, due to torsional vibrations set up b thetransference Oil energy to and from he flywheel, a lay shaft oradditional shattis arranged in parallel alignment with said primarycranks 18 and secondary crank shaft 21.

This lay shait. 25 is furnished with n o0 at its opposite ends which engage or mesh with pinions 31 fixed to the primary cranks 18.

The lay shaft 29 forms a mechanical coupling or linkage between theprimary c 'anks 18, and effectively resists any inclination 01 theprimary c anks 18 to over run each other and thereby disturb the aligniint of the secondary crank shaft 21, and further said shalt 29 ensures atany given instant a uniformity of torque throughout said primary cranks.18 and the secondary crankshaft 21, and 'enioves all torsion from thesecondary crank shaft.

The gears 30 and pinions 31 are, preterably, provided with doublehelical teeth in. order to eliminate back lash and to ensure smoothnessof action and silence in o oration. In order that the gears 30 andpinions 31 may be protected and efficiently lubricated they are enclosedin housings 32 formed on the engine rank case 10. l

The engine flywheel 33 is mounted on the shaft 2-9 and the latter isemployed in th transmission of power from the engine tor which purposeit can be providedwrith a pulley or otl er driving member.

lin a tour-cycle enogine the and pinions 31 can be arranged in the usualratio or two to one, and said lay shaft 25) can function as a careshaft, and it can be proride'd with earns Figures 2 and 3 for U1i'i'iechanically operati the valves of the engine.

The rectilinear motion of the crank 2i, piston rods 13., and pistonsthey ing ehove'descrihed muses possible the employnientof the covers andmum Hat the outer ends the cylinders 11.

As n'eviorsly indi utec. the *ioitiohs the cylinders 11 situe i 3 thepistons 12 remote ends of said cylindersnitand are accordingly valvesand outlet valves and 36 may function :iutom can be operated mechanicscum shaft as preferred.

On "he instroke of the pistons l2 sive mixture drawn through connected.with u carburettor or otho supply zindpnsses through. the ii. on intoth, nin'iping nd oi? the n th. or 1e :istons runner that it 7 common totwo or nore cylinders. diagrammatic views shown in *igures 6, '7, 8 and9 a receiver is shcwn'wh ch is rungedin connnu 1icz.tion with opposedpairs of cylinders 11.

Admission valves 39 are provided in the combustion heads or ends -10 ofthe cylinders, and explosive mixture passes from the receivers 38tirough these admission valves 39 into the cylinders at required periodsduring a Working cycle. These iilet valves 89 may be of hollow form asSll0\'l1 in Figures and 2, and they csnheve exhaust valves llconcentrically disposed Within them. The combustion heads 40 of thecylinders can if preferred, he made oi the usual 5. or T heed form, orof other approved design, and they nriy he fitted with poppet valves 0iordinary Well known construction,

onyother zipproed valve system may be 1 sec for controlling the pns weof on to or from either or both encs cyl1n ders.

The valves 39 and lit e, pi"' 'ferehly, nicchenicully operated by meansor the coins 3% it 29 previously demounted on the cum short scribed,motion being imported to d elves at required periods by means of tu petsA9 puss rods &3, and rockers and 4:5. 'l. rockers 4rd and are arrangedto o th admission valves 39 and eXhn ll respectively. 7

The Working cycle of the engin readily followed by referring; to

rnnnnatical views SllO. n in Figures (5, d As shown in Figure (3 an in ccted pair of pistons 12 is shout i inence an upward stroke, indicated byan arrow on theupper piston rod 38. During this stroke compression of apreviously admitted charge otexplosive mixture takes der, and explos vemixture is di" charge of opposed pair of cylin )lace in the ivorliine'end of the nitt th iile th Wt ing end of the lower cylinder is hcirgwith explosive mixture through the a sion valve 39 from the receiver 38,this or;"

plosive mixture having prev'ously forced therein by the pumping actionsoi? the pistons. The pumping end of i1- =ylinder during this strol-tecompilivers a previously induced chin l l oe pl ,s've mixture into thereceive ln Figure '5' the in er-connected t s 12 are. just commencing adownward stroke, the upper piston 12 moves through its o3; plosionstroke and the pumping end of t ie upper cylinder compresses anddelivers explosive mixture to the receiver 38. Conipression takes placein the working end of the lower cylinder, While additional explosive in'e is induced into its pumping end.

A return up vard strolze i gin in Figure 8. During "his who the Workingend of the upper cylinder is e);- hziusting and its pumping end is heinl'lllctl with free i explosive mixture i'roin the sour e of supply.Simultaneously the lower pisten 12 moves upwardly on its Working stroke,and the nunping end of the lower cylinder compresse' and delivers afurther quantity of explosive mixture to the recon -r The interconnectedpistons 12 ii. igure 9 are about to start on a second doivnivarc strokeduring vhich the WOI'lil 1g chi the upper cylinder is filled with anotn:iplosive mixture and the pimp ing end thereof delivers second charge ofexplosive mixture to the receiver Concurrently the working end of thelower cylinder is exhausting and the pumping end thereof is beingre-iilled with erplosivc mix ture.

During these tori strokes of the interconnected s 12 each one of thepair of piston ders passes tl'irongn a complete cycle of Work.

On the succeeding upward stroke con'ipression takes place in the uppercylinder, it further churg enter." the Working end of the lower cylinderand the cycle or operations is recoin nenced.

It will he observed that on enclrinstrolre of a piston 12 a cl erge ofexplosive ture is induced from the source 01" supp y into the pumpingend of the cylinder in which the piston 12 is fitted, and on each on"-strokeofsnid piston this charge 03": 2;plosive mix me is compressed anddelivered '0 the receiver 38. Further will he uncle. stood that during acomplete v-rorlsino c cle of it cylinder explosive mixture to fill thethis volume is delivered to said receiver 38.

Explosive mixture, accordingly, becomes stored under pressure in thereceiver 38 and on the induction strokes of the pistons 12 this mixtureis pressure fed or forced fed to the cylinders, the admission valves 39being timed to open during this period. At the con'in'iencement of thecompression strokes of the pistons 12 the pressure in the cylinders isaccordingly raised above that of the atmosphere and said cylinders aresaid to be supercharged with explosive mixture.

This super-charging of the cylinders considerably increases the thermalefficiency of the engine, and is of special value at high speeds whenowing to throttling in the inlet passages and valves the pressure at thecommencement of the compression strokes in engines of ordinary design isfrequently low than that of the atmosphere.

Various alterations in the arrangement and timing of the admissionvalves 89 and exhaust valves ll may be made Within the scope of theinvention.

'lh admission valves may be automatic and regulated in their operationby the relative pressures in the receivers 38 and cylinders or they niai be mechanically operated as previously described. The exhaust valvesll may be kept open for a small portion of the T part of an inductionstroke so that a required proportion of cold air is craivn into theworking end of each cylinder through the exhaust port or passageconnected therewith, thereby cooling the exhaust. valve 41.

Furthermore, the admission valves 39 may be timed to regulate the periodor point of admission in such manner that loss of explosive mixturethrough the exhaust ports may be prevented, and the compression pressureregulated to a required degree.

By arranging the timing of the admission valves 89 to be controlled by agovernor, the engine may be governed by varying; the compressionpressure and accordingly the impulses im mrted to the pistons on theirpower strokes.

The opposed pistons 12 and piston rods 13 of each pair of interconnectedpistons are made as nearly as possible of equal weight, and beingsymmetrically disposed about a crank pin 24:, their centre of gravity ispositioned on the axis thereof. Accordingly each pair of interconnectedpistons 12 with the pi l on rods 13 attached thereto can be perfectlybalanced by masses located on the opposite side of the axis of thesecondary sl'lattt 29..

These masses are conveniently formed as extensions 23 of the cranks 28,and are symmetrically disposed about the diametrel plane passing throughthe axis of the crank pins 24 and the axis of the secondary crank shaft21, and their centres of gravity are )OFtltlOdGCl from the latter axisat distances proportional to their Weights.

in a similar manner the secondary crank shaft 21 and the reciprocatingmasses attached thereto as pistons 12 and piston rods can be perfectlybalanced by the provision suitable masses formed as opposite exns 18 ofthe primary cranks 18 and located at required distances from the axisthereof, as will be readily understood.

In the l'nodiiication of the engine illustrated in Figure l, pairs ofopposed cylinders 11 or pluralities of pairs of said cyl inders, havingpistons 12, piston rods 13, primary cranks 18, and secondary cranks 21,are disposed on opposite sides of a centrally located lay shaft 29having on its opposite ends gears 30 Which mesh with pinions 31 on theprimary cranks 18.

This lay shaft 29f functions as a mechanical coupling or linkage betweenthe opposite ends of both pairs of primary cranks 18 in the manner andfor the purpose previously described By arranging the gears and pinions31 in the ratio or two to one the lay shaft 29 can be' driven, in thecase of a four-cycle engine, at one half the speed of the rimary cranks18, and said lay shaft 29 may be provided with cams Set for operatingthe admission valves 39 and exhaust valves ll of the cylinders in themanner previously described.

The flywheel (not shown) of the engine is mounted on the'lay shaft 29which also carries a power transmitting element as a pulley or the like.

The action and cycle of operations in this modified engine are similarto those previously described, and said engine can be made of greatcompactness and its Working parts can Without diiliculty be disposed insuch manner that they balance one another with exactness.

in the foregoing description the explosive mixture has been described asbeing forced by the pumping ends of the cylinders into the receivers 38from which at required periods it is delivered to the Working ends ofsaid cylinders. lt'ivill, however, be obvious to persons skilled in theart that air alone may be compressed in the pumping ends of thecylinders and delivered to the receivers 38 in which it is stored underpressure and this stored air may be used to effcctively scavenge theWorking ends of the In this arrangement of the invention liquid fuel maybe forced into the Working ends of the cylinders at the end of thecompression stroke or it may be drawn into the cylinder by injectoraction of the inrushing air.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crank casing,cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, primary crank lit) membersjournaled on said crank casing, secondary driving connections betweenthe pistons and said primary crank members, a l y shaft journaled on andextending throu said crz nk casing in parallel relation to said primarycrank members, and a driving connection between said lay shaft andprimary crank members at each end of the crank casing.

In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crank casing,cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, primary crank members comprising acrank section journaied on each end or the crank case in coaxialalignment with each other, secondary driving connections between thepistons and the two primary crank members, a lay shaft journaled on andextending through the crank casing parallel to the primary crankmembers, gears on said lay shaft adjacent to each or said primary crankmembers, and gears on said primary crank members which engage theaforesaid gears on the lay shaft to equalize the torsion on the crankmembers.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crank casing,a pair of coaxially arranged opposed cylinders, piston in each cylinder,a piston rod rigidly connected with said pistons, primary crank memberscomprising separated crank sections arranged on opposite sides of saidpiston rod in coaxial alignment With each other and journaled on saidcasing, a secondary crank shaft having its ends journaled in the arms ofthe primary crank shaft members and having a connection with said pistonrod, a lay shaft for transmitting power journaled on and extendingthrough the crank casing parallel to the primary crank members, gears onsaid lay shaft at opposite ends of the crank casing, and a gear fixed tothe corresponding primary crank member in engagement with said gears onthe lay shaft to equalize the torsion on the crank members.

i. In an internal combustion engine,'the combination of a crank casing,a plurality of co-axially arranged cylinders, pistons Within saidcylinders, a piston rod rigidly connected with said pistons, primarycrank members arranged in coaxial alignment journaled on said casing, asecondary crank shafthaving its ends journaled in the arms of theprimary crank members, a pinion mounted upon the secondary crank shaft,a fixed toothed rack engagin said pinion, constraining the crank pins onsaid secondary crank shaft to reciprocate in rectilinear hypo-cycloidalcourses synchronously as the common axis of said secondary crankdescribes an orbit about the axis of the primary cranks, a lay shaftprovided. at its opposite ends with gears engaging pinions fixed to theprimary crank members and a fly wheel mounted on said lay shaft.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination of a crank casing, a plurality of co-axially arrangedcylinders, pistons Within said cylinders, a piston rod rigidly connected with said piston, primary crank members arranged in coaxialalignment on said casing, a secondary crank shaft having its endsjournalled in the arms of the primar crank members, hypo-cycloidaltoothed members mounted upon, and connected with said secondary crankshaft, for constrainiz he crank pins to reciprocate in rect incurcourses, a lay shaft provided with gears at its opposite ends enga 'ingpinions fixed to the primary crank members, and a fly Wheel mounted onsaid lay shaft.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crank casing,a plurality oft co-axially arranged cylinders, pistons Within saidcylinders, a piston rod rigidly con nected with said pistons, primary crmembers arranged in co-ar-zial ali nment journalled on said casing, asecondai ;v crank shaft having its ends journalied in the arms of tireprimary crank member, a planet 'y pinion on the secondary crank shaft,:1 liked circular rack concentrically disposed with the axis of theprimary crank memocrs and co-acting with the planetary pinion to rccirocate the crank pins of the secondary crank in straight lines, a layshaft provided with gears at its outer ends, engaging pinions fixed tothe primary crank members, and a fly wheel mounted on said lay shaft inan internal combustion engine, the combination or a crank casing, aplurali o't' (o-axially arranged cylinders, pi o Within said cylinders,a piston rod 7. connected with said pistons, primary cr members arrangedin co axial alignment journalled on said casing, a secondary crank shafthaving its ends journalled in the a of the primary crank members armsequal in length to those of the 1 mary cranks, a planetary pinionmounted on the secondary crank shaft and having a pitch diameter equalto the diameter of orbit described by the axis of the or about the axisof the primary cranks, a ii i circular rack engaging said pinion, andhaving a pitch diameter equal to twice the diameter of said orbit, a layshaft provided with gears at its outer ends engaging pinions fixed tothe primary shaft membe and a fly Wheel mounted on said lay shalt.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the con'ibina ion of a crankcasing, a plurality of co-al-zially arranged cylinders, pistons withinsaid cylinders, a piston rod rig connected with said pistons, primary ormembers arranged in co-aaial alignment journalled on said casing, asecondary crank shaft having its ends journalled in the a s of theprimary crank shaft, a lay shalt geared at its opposite end to theprimary crank members in the ratio of two to one,

valve operating cams, and a it ii ernal combustion engine, the combmaion of a crank casing, a plurality oi: co-a ally arraiged cylinders,pistons mounted within said ll idljJ connected v crank members arr inentjonrnallcd n cylinders, a piston rod ith. said pistons, primary anged inco-axial alignsaid casing, a secondary crank shaft havin its endsjournalied in the arms oi. the primary crank members, a planetary pilion mounted n said secondary crank shaft, a circular rack co-actingwith he planctar pinion to reciprocate the crank line in straight lines,a lay shaft geared at is ends with the primary cranks and maintainingthe assemblage of said prin'iary cranks in positive alignmentand a flywheel mounted on the lay shaft.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the conilgiination ot a crankcasing, a plurality of co-a 'ially arranged cylinder, pistons within aidcylinders, piston rod rigidly conncc f with said pistons, primary crankmembers arranged in co-axial aligmnent allcd on aid casing, a secondarycrank t having its ends jonrnalled in the arms of the primary crankmembers, a planetary pinion on the secondary crank shatt, a fixedcircular rack engaging the planetary pinion and co-z-ict-ing therewithto constrain the crank pins of the secondary crank shaft to reciprocatewith the piston rods in straightiines, a lay shaft geared at itsopposite ends to the prin'iary crank ant maintaining the assemblage ofsaid primary and secondary cranks in positive alignment, and valveopcrating elements connected with said lay shalt.

i an internal combustion engine, the

combination of a crank casing, a plurality of co-ai-i'ially arrangedcylinders, pumping chan'ibez's connected with said cylinders, rc-

ceirers between the pun'iping chan'ibers and the working ends of saidcylinders, a plurality of pistons Within said cylinders, a piston rodrigidly connected with said pistons, primary crank members arranged incoaxial alignment journalled on said casing, a secondary crank shafthaving its ends journalied in the arms out the primary crank members,means for constraining the crank pii a lay shat't geared at its ends tosaid primary crank menilzers, and meals connected with said lay shaftfor controlling apertures connected with said chambers.

In an internal combustion engine, the combination of crank casing, aplurality of (o-axially arranged cylinders, pistons within saidcylinders, a piston rod rigidly connectcd with said plstons, primarycrank members arranged in co-axiai alignment journalled on said casing,a secondary crank shaft having its ends journalled in the arms of theprimary era: k members, means for constraining the secondary crank pinsand tilt} piston rods to reciprocate in straight lines, a lay shaftprovided on its ends with sears connected with pinions on the primarycrank i'en'ibers, and maintaining the assemblage of said primary 2111Csecondary cranks in alignment, pumping chambers between the pistons andthe covers of said cylinders, receivers between the pumping chambers andthe working ends of said cylinders, inlet valves on the pumpingchambers, outlet valves between the pumping chambers and the receivers,admission valves between the receivers and the working ends of thereceivers, exhaust valves on the cylinders, and cams on the lay shaftengaging means for operating said valves.

In testimony that he claims the foregoing as his invention, he hassigned his name.

